Method or process for the reduction and smelting of ore and arrangement therefor.



. F. THARALDSEN. METHOD 0R PEO0Ess FORTHE'RBDUGTION AND \SMELT'ING 0F ORE AND ARRANGEMENT THEREFOR.

I I APPLIUATIC N FIL-ED MAY 31, 1911.

Patented Nov. 7, 1911.

0 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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- T. THARALDSEK. METHOD 0R PROCESS FOR THE REDUCTION AND SMELTING 0F ORE AND ARRANGEMENT THEREFOR.

APPLIUATION FILED MAY 31,1911.

Patented Nov. 7, 1911.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

5.7- Q fddwbp P. THARALDSEN. METHOD OR PROCESS FOR THE RBDUGTION AND SMELTING 0F ORE AND ARRANGEMENT THEREFOR;

APPLICATION FILED MAY 31, 1911.

Patenteci Nov s sums-sans V/l ////i ZZ V/ i m PATENT OFFICE.

FILIP TI -IARALDSEN, OF TRONDHJEM, NORWAY.

METHOD OR PROCESS FOR THE REDUCTION AND SMELTING OF ORE AND ARRANGE- MENT THEREFOR. 7

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 31, 1911. Serial No. 630,384.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FILII THARALDSEN, a

subject of the King'of Norway, residing at the city of Trondhj em, Norway, have invent ed certain new and useful Improvements in trodes are in direct contact with the heated charge, which has passed through the reduc' tion-shaft of the furnace and partly consists of unreduced ore, which causes a great. consumption of the elctrodes.

The present invent-ionv relates to a method or process and arrangement for effecting such process, for obviating the said drawbacks and consists in, that I add to the charge, which is principally ore, during its passage through the furnace, substances such as reducing-agent and ore, with the object to be able to control the proportion of component parts in the charge toward and in the melting-zone. The reducing-agent is advantageously introduced 1n such a manner that a layer of the same s formed on the interior side of the wall of the furnace so as to inclose the charge; preferably the'said layer is formed so as to increase in thickness toward the melting-zone, for the purpose of protecting the furnace walls, the active gases in the layer of carbon being reduced, thereby relatively lowering the temperature next to the walls. Thus if it appears that an excess of carbon is present in the melting-zone I am able to adjust the proportion of the component parts by introducing ore at the different heights, whereas in the furnaces of the old type such adjustment can only be made in the new charge fed in at the top of the furnace. With regard to electric furnaces I also provide an arrangement so that the electrodes shall lie in a charge composed principally of reducing-agent; by this 'arrangement the, active gases also here must pass through a charge principally composed of reducing-agent. The gases (CO in passing through the carbon-charge near the electrodes, where they are converted to CO, consume heat. The result is obtained that this heat-consuming part of the process (conversion of CO to G0), which thus takes place in that part of the charge, which consists of carbon (reducing-agenththatis, next to the electrodes, keeps the lattenrelatively cool.

Patented Nov. 7, 1911 hen using electric furnaces I preferably provide one or more separate shafts for the disposition of the electrodes and for supplying or introducing the charge composed mainly of reducing-agent so that it is not necessary for the latter to pass through the main shaft(rediiction-shaft) and said charge may consequently be supplied to the elec-' trodes in cold condition. By this provision the electrodes will not be consumed so quickly and the electric current, which passes through the heated material, is concentrated toward the bottom of the furnace. Into said shafts are also introduced gases, which will further lower the temperature by their conversion to CO, all of these features of the process tending to protect the walls and the roofs of the said shafts against melting.-

In the appended drawings I show. different forms of construction of electric furnaces suitable for carrying out the present method or process, in which 1 Figure l is a vertical sectional view of a furnace; Fig. 2 is a vertical seotional'view of same at right angles to Fig. 1; and Fig.3 is a vertical section of a furnace each half showing a different arrangement of the supply passages for the reducing-agent and for the gases to the main shaft.

The furnace has a main shaft a (the reduction shaft) and two side-shafts b, b, in which latter the electrodes 0, c ,arepla-ced; in the roof of the-latter sha'fts openings d are provided forsupplying the charge. The main shaft on is provided at the top with a pipe 0 or flues for the exit of the wastegases. I further may, as shown in Fig. 1, provide fiues f for the introduction of gases; said flues 'fmay be provided with dampers or valves for regulating the supply of gases.[

9 are flues for the introduction of reduci1'1g-agent or other materials or substances and through said lines I may also introduce gases.

h are openings for intrmlucing such gases as may be suitable.

j and 70 are openings for drawing oii the slag and the molten product respectivel Z, Z are bottom-electrodes; however the latter may be placed in different positions or may even be dispensed with altogether.

By the arrangement of furnace described and shown I am enabled to regulate the proportions of the material in the charge at dii ferent steps during the travel of the charge through the furnace in such a manner that the charge at the beginning may consistclusively of ore (or the material to be .duced) while said charge may be supplied through the fines g with reducing-agent and flux if necessary.

In order to insure that the materials in troduced through the fines 9 shall enter freely into the shaft a I arrange projections m so as to provide free spaces just above the mouth of the dues.

I claim:

1. Method or process of reducing and smelting ores, which consists in feeding charge consisting principally (5r ore into the top of a suitable furnace, simply ing charges of solid material comprising a reduclng agent to said first named charge durin the assa e of the latter through the E3 #3 n v furnace at points near the melting zone, so

to control the proportions of ore and reducing agent required in the charge toward and within the melting zone, and at the same time feeding in. said. charge comprising the reducing agent so that it forms a layer on the interior side of the furnace which forms an envelop. entirely surround ing or inclosing the central charge consist ing principally of ore.

2. Method or process of reducing and smelting ores, which consists in feeding a charge consisting principally of oreinto the top of a suitable furnace, supplying charges of solid material comprising a reducing agent to said first named charge during the passage of the latter through the furnace at points near the melting zone, so as to control the proportions of ore and reducing agent required in the charge toward and within the melting zone, and at the same time feeding in said charge-comprising the reducing agent so that it forms a layer on the interior side of the furnace entirely sur--- rounding or inclosing the central charge consisting principally of ore, and formingsaid layer containing reducing agent so thatv it increases in thickness toward the melting zone,'forthe purpose of protecting the fur-- nace walls, the active gases in the layer be ing reduced, whereby the temperature to the Walls is lowered.

3. Method or process of reducing and smeltingores, which consists in feeding a charge consisting .princi 'ially of ore into a suitable furnace, supplying charges (0131* prising a reducing agent to said first named charge after it has entered the furnace at points below the region of entrance of said first named charge, so to control the proportions of ore and reducing agent required in the charge toward and within the melting zone, and at the same time forming a layer consisting oi. said second named charge on the interior side of the wall of tlie tfurnace so as to entirely surround or inclose said first named charge which latter consists principally of o e, and introducing additional charges of reducing agent into the fin'nace.

4t, hfiiethod or process of reducing and smelting ores, which consists in feeding a, chi-"go consisting principally of ore into a sni le furnace, and feeding in charges consisting of a reducing agent and ore to all:

sides of said first named charge at a plurality of points below the region of entrance of said first named charge during its passage tin-(nigh the shaft of the furnaca so to regulate the proportions oi ore and reducing agent required in the charge toward and. within the melting Zone, and supplying ad ional. charges consisting oi reducing a v into the furnace, T

Method or process of reducing and smelting ores, which COIlSiSL'S in feeding a charge consisting principally of ore into a suitahic furnace, supplying charges consist ing of a red':.cing agent and ore to said first named charge at different levels and points below the region of entra ce into the furnace oi said first named charge during its passage through the shaft or the furnace so as to regulate the proportions of ore and reducing agent required in the charge to Ward and within the melting zone, and introducing said. second named cl'iarge so as to -form outer layer of approximately circular shape. completely surrounding or insing first named charge, and at th same time forming said layer so that it will increase in thickne." steward the melting zone of the furnace, and supplying additional charges consisting of reducing agent into the furnace.

.6 Smelting furnace comprising a main shaft, a side shaft having, communication with said main shatt, electrodes disposed in said side shaft. the latter being provided with openings for supplying charges in the region of the electrodes, and fines for the introduction of reducing or other materials into said main share at points below the region of entrance into the shaft of the main charge 5. Srnclting furnace comprising main shaft, two side shafts one to each. side of the main shaft and having communication. with the latter, electrodes disposed in each side shaft, the latter being provided with openings for supplying charges of reducing agent to the region of the electrodes, and flues for the introduction of reducing agent or other material into said main shaft at points below. the region of entrance into the shaft of the main charge.

8. Smelting furnace comprising a main shaft, two side shafts one to each side of the main shaft and having communication with the latter, electrodes disposed in each side shaft, the latter being provided with open-,

ings for supplying charges of reducing agent to the region of the electrodes, flues for the introduction of reducing agent or other materials into said main shaft at points below the region of entrance into the shaft ofthe main charge, and projections on the interior Walls of the main shaft in which said flues have their inlet openings.

9. Smelting furnace comprising a main shaft, two side shafts one to each side of said main shaft and having communication with 'the latter, electrodes disposed in said side shafts, the latter being provided with openings for supplying charges to the region of the electrodes, each of the said side shafts being provided with openings for the introduction of gases, flues for the introduction of reducing agent .or other materials 7 openings for the introduction of gases there- I,

to, flues for the introduction of reducing agent or other materials into said main shaft at points below the region of entrance into the shaft ofthe main charge, projections on the interior wall of the main shaft in which said flues have their inlets, and fines disposed above said last named fines for the introduction of gases into the main shaft.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FILIP 'iHARALDSEN.

Witnesses:

N G. TANDBERG, C. AUP. ABRAHAMSERB.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, 1).. 0. 

